Homeowner foresees Kwara streets flooded with physically, mentally challenged children

Rev. Samuel Abiodun Ajayi, proprietor of a rehabilitation home in Ilorin, Kwara State has warned that unless governments at all levels and public-spirited persons practically assist charity homes in the face of the present economic realities, major streets may soon be flooded with challenged children.

Addressing newsmen, the owner of “To omo re” also urged for state government’s tax waivers and total support in the form of constant gestures.

The cleric commended the federal government’s Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) for assisting the centre with several millions of naira to put it in shape.

According to him, the centre started in 2006 with four pupils in 2008 in a rented apartment but they now need land to build more spacious places to accommodate its over 80 children population.

He listed the challenges confronting the school to include: land for expansion, experienced and qualified teachers especially for autistic children, speech and physiotherapy, lamenting that the one-engaged lectures online from Lagos cost N10,000 per session.

Training materials and feeding were added to the aforementioned problems facing the school.

He said: “unless the government and private sectors decide to help us, the divine assignment we decided to take up may soon suffer for example consider feeding these students four times daily, you will agree is not too easy with the nation’s present economic realities. Don’t forget that many of these children can’t talk and unable to express themselves,” adding that the centre still uses charcoal and firewoods to cook because it couldn’t afford gas.

“The training materials especially for those with speech problems are also very expensive and some times out of range.”

On the need for land, Ajayi told newsmen that 50 of the pupils go to the centre from their homes and appealed for vehicles to take care of their transportation.

He commended his staff who at times wash the adult students with bare hands occasionally when they deficate on their bodies, describing them as fellow workers in the God’s vineyard.